Family remembers grandfather, granddaughter killed in fire
NEW CASTLE, Ind. (WISH) – A grandfather and granddaughter killed in an early morning house fire are being remembered. Michael “Stump” Dale and his granddaughter Jenna were both killed.
“Every time people would see Stump’s picture, they will always look down and remember Stump as the person he was. He had the biggest heart you could possibly ever have,” said Mark Lang, the victim’s cousin. “He’s definitely going to be missed. He and Jenna.”
Fire crews were on scene at 1 a.m. battling the fire, but it was too late to save them.
According to Liberty Township Fire Department Chief Jimmy Raines, the fire started at a home on 850 East, just south of State Road 38.
Fire officials say Dale’s wife and son found the house on fire as they were coming home from work.
“Stump was one of those guys that was loved by all. Once you got to know Stump, there ain’t nobody better than Stumper,” said Lang.
The fire was so intense it cut through the house, and torched cars in the yard. It was still smoldering into the afternoon.
A steady stream of family members and friends paid their condolences this afternoon.
“She was a beautiful girl. That’s sad,” said Chastity Wilkinson, who lives nearby.
“He always put a big smile on everybody’s face and he always will,” said Lang.
And he can still make them smile even in death by just mentioning his nickname.
“As many years as anybody every knew him, they never knew him as Mike Dale, they always knew him as the old Stumper. Stump was probably one of the best ball players around in his day. He’s built like a stump, he’s about 5’6″ and short little stocky guy, no neck, so we all named him the old Stumper,” said Lang.
The cause of the fire hasn’t yet been determined. The state’s Fire Marshal is helping with the investigation. One of things authorities did say about the investigation is that firefighters didn’t hear smoke alarms going off when they got on scene
“He’s definitely going to be missed and Jenna’s going to be missed and they’ll always be in our hearts, and one day we’ll be up there with them,” said Lang.